Make that two new ships on the way for Regent Seven Seas Cruises.
The Miami-based luxury line's soon-to-debut Seven Seas Explorer, currently under construction in Italy, will be getting a sister in 2020, Regent parent company Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings Ltd. announced Thursday.
The as-yet-unnamed vessel will have many of the same high-end features and amenities being installed on the 750-passenger Explorer, which is scheduled to debut in July, the company said.
Explorer already is proving a huge hit with luxury-minded vacationers. Cabins for its inaugural season have been selling heavily. Its inaugural sailing sold out the first day it was on sale.
“The extraordinary demand generated by Seven Seas Explorer, including record-breaking booking volumes, reinforced our decision to expand our fleet with an additional ship that mirrors the same incredibly high standards of luxury," Regent president and COO Jason Montague said in a statement accompanying Thursday's announcement.
Regent has been billing Explorer as the most luxurious ship ever. At $450 million, it's the most expensive luxury ship ever built, and it'll boast one of the highest ratios of space to passengers in the history of cruising. It'll also have some of the largest, most elaborate accommodations at sea, including a single suite measuring 3,875-square-foot -- nearly 50 percent larger than the average house in the USA.
Explorer also will have a wide range of upscale eateries including new-for-the-line contemporary French and Asian restaurants, and a newly designed version of the line's signature steakhouse, Prime 7. A stylish spa operated by Canyon Ranch; a two-tiered, 694-seat theater; and an opulent Observation Lounge that evokes the 1920s also are in the works.
Regent on Thursday said the newly order ship would be even pricier than Explorer at 422 million euros -- about $480 million.
Regent long has been a leader in luxury cruising along with such brands as Crystal Cruises and Seabourn Cruise Line. Just how luxurious are Regent ships? Click through the carousels below for our exclusive photo tour and behind-the-scenes videos of the line's recently revamped Seven Seas Mariner.
